What would you ask a seasoned blogger?

I've been blogging for awhile now, but I don't claim to be an expert. In fact, my post today is just as important to me, as it might be to my readers. I ask this question:

What would you ask a seasoned blogger?

For example, last week, I spent a few hours searching for CSS and template tips to add my Torley Texture background, and change my list of tags into a tag cloud. I know practically nothing about CSS other than the idea behind it. That's something I'd ask a seasoned blogger for help learning.

I also recently added Google's AdSense ads to my blogs, in hopes that someday I'll earn enough money from them to at least fund a domain name and maybe even hosting. No loss if I don't, but it never hurts to try, right? That's another thing I'd ask a seasoned blogger: "How do I make money off a hobby blog?" (or is it even possible).

So, what would you ask? What if you actually *could* ask someone who knows his/her stuff, and would sit down and help you?

photo credit: edrabbit

Can we go paperless?

After starting my temp agency assignment, and while trying to keep up with all of Steve Dembo's Google Academy tweets, I came to a realization about my own habits...


I am closer to living a paperless lifestyle than most. (Thanks, Google!)


I don't print emails, because Gmail archives them forever. Similarly, all my contacts are saved in Google Contacts (now a separate page!), or my cellphone. I've been scanning (or snapping cameraphone shots) of all receipts that I want to save, and syncing them to Evernote. I've even given up paper maps in favor of Google Maps either on my laptop, iPod Touch, or cellphone!

I'm definitely not the tinfoil-hat type, so privacy concerns don't, umm...concern me, but wasting paper does. Today, I photocopied invoices (which were originally triplicate carbon-copies), then had to file the originals. Following that, I dug through a Xerox box full of receipts, travel records, notes scrawled on napkins, business cards, and more. So, I ask...wouldn't Google and Evernote (and whatever else you needed) help you slow down your use of paper?

I need your thoughts, folks. I want to make a statement here, but I need to know I'm not nuts on this...

photo credit: AP_PHOTOS

Should I Learn CSS?

Back when Geocities was new and fun, while I was almost a college sophomore, I sat and learned html enough to make myself a simple webpage. Then, Blogger came along, and I thought to myself, "Blogging sounds like it's all about the content!" so I gave that a shot. It still required a little bit of html, but most of it was as simple as filling out a form.

Webdesign has seemed to multiply into not only html, but javascript, java, xml, rss, ajax, flash, php, umm...whatever, I know I'm missing some, but you get the point.

So, notice the new layout? (if you're reading from the feed, ya won't see it) I took the layout I chose from Blogger's selection (Minima), and looked up sites that would help me do what I wanted. Most of the edits were copy/paste, but everytime I make a little change in the code, as opposed to just dragging and dropping a new widget into the layout, I begin to wonder whether I should actually learn cascading style sheets.
I've always toyed with programming and markup languages, but I've never gotten proficient in any of them except html. I've even played with Ruby and C++, so I'm definitely geek enough to tackle them. Is it worth it though?
Anyway, here are the two sites I found that helped with my template edits, mainly my new tag cloud, and the background images (while leaving the content and sidebar backgrounds white).

http://phy3blog.googlepages.com/Beta-Blogger-Label-Cloud.html
http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/2007/03/background-image-for-blogger-template.html

Enjoy, and give them some page hits if you need similar help with your pages!

After the Tweetup

Last night was my 3rd Harrisburg Tweetup, and this by far was the smallest attendance, since I've started going...but don't get me wrong; it was still a great night out, and there was still plenty to talk about!
We started out on the deck with Dave, Kathleen, Vicky, and myself. It's always funny to see a group of "strangers" try to meet, as Andrea (didn't get her Twitter name) found out. It made for a hilarious story, but at least she got a free drink out of it.
Aaron showed up shortly after, followed by Justin and Daniel. We joked about the "non-bear chili", and the HUGE (I'm not exagerating) salad Andrea got. We talked about Twitter's learning curve (or lack of one?), and our lack of wifi at the ABC last night. Gadget etiquette was also joked about (turns out, I'm allowed to keep my phone out on the table during Tweetups)
As it got a little chillier (still no bear, though), we moved inside. I responded to a few Central PAers' Tweets asking how the Tweetup was going, so later on we had James and Sara show up for a few beers and their normal restaurant/political conversations (which I find myself more and more interested in, lately).

So, I've made a decision:  I intend on making every Harrisburg Tweetup even though I'm no longer living in Central PA. Why, you ask? Because these people rock!

HBG Tweetup: This time I have a favor to ask

Coming up, on the 18th, is Harrisburg's monthly Tweetup (I've blogged about it before). It'll be on the deck, of Appalachian Brewing Company, in Harrisburg, from 7-9-ish.
I always take something valuable home with me, whether it's a new social-media site to checkout, or advice for dining out in Harrisburg. I've made great friends ("unconsumated" until I met them, lol), and really enjoy the conversations both on the deck and online before and after the Tweetups.
This time, though, I have a favor for the Harrisburg Twitterati. I need to convince a friend that he needs to be aware of and active on Twitter (and other social-media) for his livelihood. I'll explain - My friend owns Idryonis Studios, a development and gaming company located in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia. While their business is still quite young, they're doing alright. BUT, all of their business has come solely from referrals and luck (being in the right place at the right time, sorta things).

I believe Twitter and other social-media can improve those connections, and hopefully bring in more!

So I'm asking on Thursday, how do I show, explain, teach, and help Idryonis develop a plan to maximize their online presence (besides their amazing website)? I hope to be able to take away (in addition to the always great conversation), some sketch of an idea. Examples of how it's helped each of us, and examples of how it could help them.
Comments to get me/them started before the Tweetup? Leave 'em in the comments!

Almost 400 miles/10 Gallons of Gas! [hypermiling]

I shouldn't have to say anything more...but I will. By using MyMileMarker, I've been able to track my mileage since July, 2007, and improve my driving habits significantly.

Hypermiling.

Simply put, hypermiling is "hacking" your vehicle's EPA listed fuel economy rating. For example, my 2002 Saturn SL1 has a listing of 23 (city), 34 (highway), and 27 (combined). According to MyMileMarker, my combined average is 34.6!

So, how do I do it? Drive slower (55mph, no more!). Coast to stops (or even better, time your traffic lights), and accelerate slowly. I'm including my delicious page of hypermiling links, because it's how I learned. The thing that sticks with me most is this quote,

"When you're stopped, your car gets 0 miles per gallon."

I'm still learning too. I'm certainly not an expert like Wayne Gerdes, or those "Prius guys", so I still have much to learn. I've been experimenting with Potential Parking and Ridge Riding to see if it helps.
The biggest thing I worry about is safety, though. It's not worth my life, nor anyone else's, just to safe a couple bucks in fuel. That means, NO DRAFTING (usually, lol), and you actually have to be more aware of your surroundings and traffic flow. I recently applied for a Hypermiler decal from the Hypermiling Safety Foundation, which was formed specifically to make people more aware of hypermiling, and make hypermilers safer in their pursuits of greener travel.
While my goal would be to never have to drive, when I'm forced to, I'd rather do it as efficiently, cheaply, and the least dependant on oil as I possibly can. Wouldn't you?

Social Media and Politics

As I sit here watching the Republican National Convention, I'm also watching my Twitter and Plurk streams, just as I had for the Democratic National Convention. While the speeches by Obama, McCain, Palin, Biden, etc are all well-written, crowd-raising (well...most of them), my social media feeds are feeding me the facts. So I ask,
Is social media making US citizens more aware of our political system and our responsibilities to participate and vote?
I have to be honest...in all fairness, I voted in the last presidential election for the first time in my life (I'm 30, so I've skipped voting a number of times). Because of Twitter, and YouTube, I got out, researched the candidates, and voted in my state's primary. I've listened when people talk about politics instead of saying, " I refuse to discuss politics with people.". And, for the first time in my life, I've sat through both parties' conventions.
I've learned about each candidates views on education, the environment, the economy, and our safety. I've kept track of Obama via his Twitter account. It feels like ages ago, but I even visited Edwards' and Obama's campaign sites in Second Life!
While I can't possibly claim to be a political expert, activist, or even enthusiast...with the help of social media, I can now consider myself a citizen who is doing their civic duty and right to vote.